Board for playing an atom game



E. D. FLICKINGER ET AL 2,492,563

BOARD FOR PLAYING AN ATOM GAME Dec. 27, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1945 Elma/MOM:

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 2,492,563 Biihlifi- FUR ATOM GAME Earl-D. Flickinger and-Julius .Foster, .Oak Ridge- Tenn assighprs hy direct and mesne assignnieiit s, nth

The Atomic ames Gompany; on:

Ridge Temit,apartnership. Kpplieation December 26, 1945} Serial No. 6372149? 2 Ciaims.-: (o1. 213 -135) This invention relates in general to ga'rfies and in particulafito a tame garnereleted to the fieldof nuclear physics;

Objects o'f-tlie-inventiori are to .provide a' novel game which is easy to 1ey, interesting, exciting; and entertaining. i

, Another object to provldea game -that is;- highly educational in' character in that through' the incentive of game play, it teaches thenature x neutrons aneemetrens 1-9 to an atom diagram to complete an atoni or a predetermined element. Each participant holds ai card identifyingla particular element and the participant holding the :9

card for an element whose at'on'r-is completed on the playboard is judged to be the winner;

In the drawings accompanying the description of this invention, Fig. .1- is a plan view or a pre=-" rferred embodimentiof the playboard used in the% game; Fig. 2 shows in plarfiantl end elevation, and l on an emerged scale; the various types of playing r pieces used; Fig. 3 is a, table of the various ele ments or atom"s knowri at the pfriesent time, thetable containing-information relating to'tli'e con- '30 struction of each' atom? Figs. and 5 are en-"- larged views" of typical atom blocks included in the table of Fig. stand-Fig. 615a view or one of' the cards of the se't of decl fused in playing the:

game. 35

Referring now toth'e drawings, the game includes a playing surface I which may bet-made. in any suitable form such as foriexample a rela tively stiff paper board or? a sheet of durable paper. centric rings'Z-li inclusive} which are reprsentaetive of the various electron orbitspossibl'e' in any; atom, and a center area} 9 which is representative of the nucleus of an'ato The centraltarea 9 is divided intea fneutron f. section m ans a proton section I I;

Withirr sectionl fl is neutron" table me representing ithjnumkiefi of neutrons possible in. any particular atomtand this table is accordingly divided into one hue-ares foi't'y-six different. squares l2, numbered cons'ecutiveiy from .0 to 146,

the highest number-or-cbur's being theifiumber of neutrons in either of the atoins nepturiium or uranium.

Within section in is a pi'oton table He representing the" numberfoi protons possible in any particular atom aridathisftalbie is accordingly 2;-

divided into riinety fouf squares l3. numbered consecutively from 1 to 94, the highest number The surface?! contains a. mummy of con 4 smasll toaper mit all atomic weight, a large quantity of playing pieces .or discs; l5} 'IB ami' f1; asshown in Fig. 2 are used. These .discs' arerof a size: as to fit within each oi'l-thei squares 2 Bandithe small circles M and-may: all-be aliker However, it is preferred to make the neutron, proton and electron discs distinct fromorie another bysuitable distinctive legends.- Thus all of the discs l5 might carry the legend neutron? and-its corresponding symbo1; discs ifi the legend proton and symboY-EB; and 'discs- 11' the legend electron and sym'bol .v Discs. IS -l1 are also preferably made fromrtranspare'nii plastic material (colored or uncol'ored) so that-the player can more easily identify the number of the squares l2, l3 and circles I 4 on-whicli'theyare-placed as the game ensues; Thus", the neutron discs may be formed from clear uncolored iplastic, theelectron discs of transparent red' or blnepl'asti'c, and the proton discs oftransparentblue or red plastic.

The game. also =inc1udes anatomic table i 8, preferably arrang'ebd' asshownFig. 3, this table containing ninety' io n bl'ocks, there being a block for 'each of the different" atoins known at the present-time. Each-of the blocks contains information relative to the composition of the particular atom ast'o'the neutrons, protons and electrons in the atom :which that particular block represents. In illustrating table 18 in Fig. 3, it hasfbeen necessary howevertd use a scale too 7 e information on the various atoms to beincludeds Accordingly, only some of the =inf0rmati0n-1SZS'H6WH, reference being made to the enlargedviews in Figs. '4 and 5 for illustration of 'a'lltlieliniormatiomwhich would be contained withinany block.- Thus in Fig. 4 it is seen that block-number ereiates to oxygen, the informatiorirelative thereto being preferably arranged in the :rnanner showm: Other arrangements ofthis information within the block are 60 obviously possible. Fig.5 illustrates a similar 2,492,563 i 4 arrangement of information relative to an atom Information to be inserted in the other ninetyhaving Tait; isotope, such 'i'for example as two squares "of table 18 can be obtained from the columbium? followmg complete table of the atoms.

TABLE OF ATOMS A mc Neutrons Protons Electrons Atomic gg Name Symbol v e K L M N P Q Weight Hydrogen 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Helium 2 2 2 2 O 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 I 4 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 6 5 5 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 6 G 6 2 4 O 0 0 0 0 12 7 7 7 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 14 8 8 8 2 '6 0 0 0 0 0 16 9 9 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 19 10 10 1O 2 8 0 0 0 0 0 20 12 11 11 2 8 1 0 0 0 0 23 12 12 '12 2 8 2 9 0 0 0 24 14 13 13 2 8 3 0 0 0 0 27 -14 14 14 2 8 4 0 0 0 0 28 16 15 15 2 8 5 0 O 0 0 31 16 16 16 2 8 6 0 O 0 0 32 17 or 17 17 2 8 7 0 0 0 0 34 1d 37 22 18 18 2 8 8 0 0 0 0 40 20 19 19 2 8 8 1 0 0 0 39 20 20 20 2 8 8 2 0 0 0 40 24 21 V 21 2 81 9 2 0 0 0 45 26 22 22 2 8 10 2 0 0 0 48 28 23 23 2 8 11 2 0 0 0 51 28 24 -24 2 8 l2 2 0 0 0 52 30 25 25 2 8 13 2 0 0 0 55 26 26 2 8 14 2 0 0 0 56 32 27 1 27 2 8 15 2 O O 0 59 31 28 28 2 8 16 2 O 0 0 59 29 29 2 8 18 1 0 0 0 64 35 30 30 2 8 18 2 0 -0 0 5 39 31 31 2 8 18 3 0 0 O 70 39 or 41 32 32 2 8 18 4 0 0 0 73 Arsenic As 42 33 33 2 8 18 5 0 0 0 75 Selenium Se 45 34 34 2 8 18 6 0 0 0 79 BI 45 35 35 2 8 18 7 0 0 0 80 Kt 48 36 36 2 8 18 8 0 0 0 84 Rb 48 0149 37 37 2 8 18 8 1 0 0 86 Sr 49 or 50 38 38 2 8 18 8 2 0 0 88 Y 50 39 39 2 8 18 9 2 0 O 89 Z1 40 40 2 8 18 10 2 0 0 91 Co 51 01' 53 41 41 2 8 18 12 1 0 0 9 a d 94 M0 54 42 42 2 8 18 13 1 0 0 96 Ma 55 43 43 2 8 18 14 1 0 O 98 Ru 58 44 V 4 2 8 18 15 1 0 0 102 Rh 58 45 V 45 2 8 18 16 1 O 0 103 Pd 61 46 46 2 8 18 18 0 0 0 107 Ag 61 v 47 47 2 8 18 18 1 O 0 108 Cd 64 01' 66 48 48 2 8 18 18 2 0 0 112 and 114 I11 66 49 49 2 8 18 18 3 0 0 115 Sn 69 50 50 2 8 18 18 4 0 0 119 Sb 71 51 51 2 8 18 18 5 0 0 1 2 Te 75 or 76 52 52 2 8 18 18 6 0 0 127 and 128 I 74 53 53 2 8 18 18 7 0 0 127 Xe 77 54 54 2 8 18 18 8 0 0 131 Us 78 55 55 2 8 18 18 8 1 0 133 Ba 78 01 82 56 56 2 8 18 18 8 2 0 134 and 138 La 82 57 57 2 8 18 18 9 2 0 139 Cerium Ge 82 58 58 2 8 18 19 9 2 0 140 Praesodymium Pr 7 82 59 59 2 8 18 20 9 2 0 141 N oedymium. Nd 83 or 84 60 60 2 8 13 22 8 2 0 143 and 144 Illinium--. I1 85 61 61 2 8 18 23 8 2 0 146 Samarium Sm 87 or 89 62 62 2 8 18 24 8 2 0 149 and 152 Eurppium Eu 63 63 2 8 18 25 8 2 0 162 Gadolinium Gd 93 64 64 2 8 18 25 9 2 0 157 Terbium Tb 94 65 65 2 8 18 26 9 2 0 159 66 Dysprosium- Dy 95 or 96 66 66 2 8 18 28 8 2 0 161 and 162 67- H01 Ho 98 67 67 2 8 18 29 8 2 0 165 68 El 99 68 68 2 8 18 30 8 2 0 167 69 Tm 100 69 69 2 8 18 31 8 2 0 169 70- Yb 103 70 70 2 8 18 32 8 2 0 173 71 Lu '71 71 2 8 18 32 9 2 0 175 72 H1 106 or 108 72 72 2 8 18 32 10 2 0 178 and 180 73 Ta 108 73 73 2 8 18 32 11 2 0 181 74 W ,110 74 74 2 8 18 32 12 2 O 184 75 Re 111 75 .75 2 8 18 32 13 2 0 186 76. O5 114 76 76 2 8 18 32 14 2 0 190 77 Ir 116 77 77 2 8 18 32' 15 2 0 193 78-- Pl; 117 78 78 2 8 18 32 17 1 0 195 79 A11 118 79 79 2 8 18 32 18 1 0 197 80 Hg 119 01 80 80 2 8 18 32 18 2 0 199 and 200 T1 1 23 81 81 .2 8 18 32 18 3 0 204 Pb 124 Or 82 82 2 8 18 32 18 4 0 206 and 207 Bi 126 83 83 2 8 18 32 18 5 0 209 P0 126 84 84 2 8 18 32 18 6 0 210 Ab 127 85 85 2 8 18 32 18 7 0 212 R11 136 86 86 2 8 18 32 18 8 i 0 222 V1 136 87 87 2 8 18 32 18 8 1 223 Ra 138 88 88 2 8 18 32 18 8 2 226 A0 89 89 2 8 18 32 18 9 2 229 Th 142 90 9O 2 8 18 18 10 2 232 Pa 91 91 2 8 18 32 18 11 2 231 U 143 or 146 92 92 2 8 18 32 18 12 2 235 and 238 Np 1 93 93 2 8 18 32 18 12 3 239 P11 94 94 2 8 18 32 18 12 4 239 The game could be played with but one of the tables l8. However, inasmuch as all players must have access to information regarding the number of neutrons, protons and electrons in each atom, and also the orbital arrangement of the electrons in the atom, it would be preferable to provide a plurality of the atomic tables I3 for use by a plurality (e. g., a like number) of players. Furthermore, since it is only necessary that the players each have information relative to the neutron, proton and electron arrangement of the atoms, the particular form used to convey this information is immaterial. Thus table 18 could be in the form as shown in Fig. 3, or as printed above in the specification, or take some other form.

In playing the game, a deck of ninety-four cards is used, there being one card for each different element. Each card has printed thereon the number and name of the element and. may also include a short paragraph history, properties and characteristics of the element. One of these cards, for the element oxygen, is illustrated in Fig. 6.

The game is or may be played according to the following directions, which directions for example could be in booklet form to accompany the game, or printed on the inside of the cover of a box containing the game:

After the deck of cards has been shuflied and one card dealt to each secret, play begins with the first player to the right of the dealer. That player, using the playpieces I5 and/or l6 places either a single proton play-piece It or two proton play-pieces l6 and two neutron play-pieces proton tables Illa and Ila, respectively of the atomic diagram. Two protons and two neutrons constitute an alpha particle. Play proceeds to the right until each player has played once. During this first round only, choose between adding to the diagram another alpha particle or a single neutron play-piece 15, or a single electron play-piece l1 towards completion of the element which has an atomic number equal to the number of proton play-pieces I6 already placed in the table II.

On the second round, each player adds or subtracts a single play-piece either a neutron or an electron to the atom which has now been determined by the total number of proton play-pieces placed in table Ha during the first round, and the moving is always in the direction of completion of the atom. The electron play-pieces H are placed in their proper orbits. If it becomes necessary to change the play-pieces I! from one orbit to the other in passing from one atom to another as determined from the atomic table l8, this may be done without loss of move by any player.

After the atom, determined by the total number of proton play-pieces 16 added to section I! during the first round is completed, any player holding the card for that particular atom wins the game. If no player holds the card for that atom, the one who last added a play-piece to complete the atom may elect to throw his card away and draw another, provided he recognized the fact that he completed the atom by calling the name of that atom before removing his hand from the play-piece. If he does not claim it, any of the other players may claim it and draw another card.

If the player draws a card lower than the number of proton play-'pieces I6 already in the protonsection II, he may immediately throw that card away and draw again. If the card describing the h player, which card is kept in the neutron and r succeeding players may 1 drawn is for the atom just completed, that player wms.

After the draw by one player, play is continued exactly as before without removing any of the play-pieces l5, l6 and H, with the first move being made, to start another first round, by the player to the right of the one who finished a previous atom. Again, the first player may add only a proton play-piece 16 or an alpha particle and the following players, for the new first round, may add either a single neutron play-piece IE or a single electron play-piece l1 towards completion of that atom, or add an alpha particle. After the new first round, the atom which has been determined by the number of proton play-pieces l6 then in section II of the diagram must be completed.

Should a player hold a card for an atom which is skipped because of the addition of alpha particles, he completes an atom himself before he discards his now useless card and draws another.

As a modification, the game may be played with the deck of cards alone by allowing one player to read off from a card the description of the atom, after which the remaining players try to guess which atom that card represents.

As another modification, children may fill in the proper number of play pieces l5, l6 and H to make the various atoms in the matter of a jigsaw puzzle.

It might be desirable to also include with the game a short introductory article, which could be in the same booklet with the rules, to explain a few of the elementary facts relating to the field of nuclear physics in order that the players may play the game more intelligently and secure the maximum educational effect therefrom.

We claim:

1. In a game, a playing surface, one part of said surface denoting the nucleus of an atom and being divided into two numerically tabled sections to further denote the neutron and proton content respectively of said nucleus, and another part of said surface denoting the several electron orbits of an atom, each of the orbits of last said part having thereon a number of playing positions corresponding to the largest number of electrons which any presently known atom may possess in such orbit.

2. A playing surface as defined in claim 1 wherein the first mentioned part thereof is constituted by a hub area and the other part thereof includes a series of circles concentric with said hub designating said electron orbits.

EARL D. FLICKINGER. JULIUS FOSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 834,130 Heron Oct. 23, 1906 1,308,167 Cooper July 1, 1919 1,323,872 Lajara Dec. 2, 1919 1,519,422 Taylor Dec. 16, 1924 1,572,254 Torres Feb. 9, 1926 1,629,398 Link May 1'7, 1927 04,721 Brown Mar. 12, 1929 2,052,457 French Aug. 25, 1936 2,308,402 Taylor Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 509,632 Great Britain May 15, 1939 

